To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations (a) she and (b) representatives of her Department have made to (i) Zimbabwean authorities and (ii) the Ugandan authorities on physical attacks on the leaders of the opposition in their countries; and if she will make a statement. (132986)

On Zimbabwe, both my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, have made statements condemning the violent and unwarranted action taken by that country's Government on 11 March and stating clearly that we hold Mugabe and his Government responsible for the safety of all those detained. The same strong message was delivered to the Zimbabwean ambassador in London when he was summoned by my noble Friend Lord Triesman on 13 March. I also condemned the Government of Zimbabwe in my address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 13 March, and both the UK and EU made similar statements of condemnation at the Human Rights Council on 29 March.

We are not aware of any recent physical attacks against leaders of the Ugandan opposition. However, in our contacts with the Government of Uganda and with Ugandan opposition parties, we continue to stress the importance of maintaining a pluralist democracy, developing civil society, and respecting the rule of law.